Thermometer case



Aug. 30, 1927.

E. L. BELLows THERMOMETER CASE Filed April 2l. 1926 WITNESS:

Patented Aug. 30, 1927.

UNITED ST'FS EMMA L. BnLLoWs, or NEW Yoann. Y. l

THERMOMETER CASE.

appncauon sied april e1, ieee. serial No. masso.

rl`his invention relates to improvements vin thermometer cases. and particularly to cases for housing clinical mouth thermometers used by doctors and nurses.

rThe primary object of the invention resides in the provision of thermometer case adapted to contain afliquid antiseptic such as alcohol and inv which the' thermometer is immersed when not in use for keeping the same in a sterile and sanitary condition.

AnotherI object of the invention is the provision of a thermometer case in which the antiseptic solution contained therein is prevented from accidentally spilling when the thermometer is removed therefrom, as it Will 'be appreciated that the case is usually set upon a table or other support during the use of the thermometer Where it is subject to upsetting.

A; further object is to provide a clinical thermometer case which is simplev in construction, inexpensive of manufacture and highly eii'icient for the purpose intended lilith these and other objects in view, the invention resides in certain novel construction and combination and arrangement of parts, the essential features of which are iereinafter fully described, are particularly pointed out in the appended claim, and are illustrated in Ythe accompanying dra-W- ing, in Which Figure 1 Vis arvertical longitudinal sec'- tional vievv through my improved thermometer case showing a thermometer in position therein.

Figure 2 is a similar view but showing the thermometer removed therefrom.

y Figure B' isa horizontal sectional View on the line 3--3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a similar view on the line .Ji-

4- of Figure 1. i

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the reference numeral 10 designates a cylindrical casing which is open at both ends for the attachment of a threaded ycap 11 at one end and a closure cap 12 at the opposite end. are sorevv threaded so as to receive the threads on the respective caps 11y and 12. The cap 11 supports a cork pad 12 Which is provided with a seat 13 for a purpose to be presently described. A partition 14 isy mounted Within the casing 10,1and divides the casing into a yfluid compartment or reservoir 15 and an outer compartment 16. The partition 14 is provided With an open- The end Walls of the casingv ing 17, the Walls of which support a yieldable washer 1S constructed ofy corkor the like f Y i l valve disk 19 is supported upon a Yflat spring strip 20 which is riveted to the partition 111, While a tongue 20* is bent from the strip and is engaged by a iiat spring Q01) riveted to the side Wall of the casing and Which tends to normally force the disk into closing engagement WithA the opening in the partition, so as to normally seal an antiseptic solution livithin the reservoir 15. The Washer 18, disk 19 and pad 12 are all constructed of cork so as not to be subjected to the action of the solution Q1, as'it Will be appreciated that. other yieldable materia-l such as rubber ivill readily deteriorate if subjected to the action of alcolici or the like.

From the foregoing description, it Will be seen that-When the clinical thermometer 22 is inserted through the opening Vin the partit-ion, the Walls of the opening, being slightly smaller in diameter than the thermometer, Will tend to close about the thermometer and seal the reservoir against leakage through the opening. As the thermometer penetrates the opening, the valve or disk 19 is automatically unseated against the spring tension and as the thermometer is gradually moved toward the seat 13, a yieldable guide member 23 vserves to guide .the bulb end of the thermometer upon the seat 13. vl/'hen the thermometer is fully inserted the screw cap 12 is applied and the case may be carried in the pocket in a manner similar to that of an ordinary fountain pen. 1t might here be mentioned that the pad 12 carried by the cap 11 serves as a gasket for sealing the cap with respect to the casing.

When it is desired to use the thermometer, the cap 12 is removed and the thermometer Withdrawn from the case. As the Ybulb end of the thermometer passes out of the opening in the partition, the spring pressed valve or disk 19 automatically seats to close the opening and seals the reservoir against leakage in the event that the case should be upset, thus preventing the contents of the reservoir from spilling.

For the purpose of Washing the casing, or refilling the reservoir with a clean antiseptic, the cap 11 may be Vremoved and the reservoir emptied and refilled.

While l have described what l deem to 

